The Institute for Health Equity Research Catalyst Center

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Health disparities science has advanced significantly over the last two decades, yet complex challenges remain. Improving the health and health care of populations, and by extension the health of all communities, will require a robust, transdisciplinary minority health and health disparities (MH/HD) research workforce with expertise in

health equity research methods and approaches, and experience engaging with communities and multi-sector stakeholders. Emerging MH/HD researchers will need to become adept at designing multi-level, multi-domain studies to address the many intersecting factors and sources that contribute to health disparities and should be

committed to engaging communities across all phases of research, from the development of research questions to dissemination of findings to scientific and non-scientific audiences. We propose to establish the Institute for Health Equity Research Catalyst Center at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, guided by an

Appreciative Inquiry framework. The Center will provide scientific training and funding support to promote the engagement, advancement, and retention of investigators across Mount Sinai in community-informed research focused on understanding and eliminating health disparities. A key priority will be bi-directional capacity building

in MH/HD research (investigators  community partners), and we will engage community partners across Center programs and activities. The Center’s aims are to: (1) Build on existing strengths, expertise, and resources to develop the Center’s governance, programmatic, and evaluation components (Administrative Core); (2) Catalyze

efforts to conduct MH/HD research to support trainees/faculty at all levels and across all disciplines through education and training; and implement the Catalyst Scholars Pilot Project Program for early-stage investigators planning to submit NIH K or R applications (Investigator Development Core (IDC)). Pilot projects will be required

to: focus on disparities populations, incorporate domains from the NIMHD framework, and include community- engaged approaches; (3) Leverage our existing, expansive academic-community partnerships to convene a Catalyst Community Board (CCB) to collaborate with the IDC on all aspects of the Center’s work (Community

Engagement and Dissemination Core/CEDC) and link Scholars to community consultants, and research and dissemination partners. Catalyst activities for all faculty and trainees include Health Equity Research Methods and Approaches Workshops & Seminars, a health disparities consultation service, multi-sector summits. Catalyst

Scholars will be paired with health equity mentors, have access to experts in MH/HD research approaches and methods, and participate in research methods workshops, health equity seminars and career development activities; they will present their work to the CCB for input at project start-up and upon completion to co-develop

novel dissemination strategies. We will evaluate all programs/activities and the Center’s overall performance to create and share a blueprint for others to build similar centers. Catalyst will become a dynamic transdisciplinary Center producing MH/HD research designed for rapid translation to policy, practice, and measurable impact.